International Pairs Winners!

We are thrilled to announce that two of our members Nigel Bratton and Joe Copley, have won the International Pairs Championship. They now go on to the world final in Portugal to represent the UK and Beeston Fields.

In his own words, Nigel explains how the day unfolded…

"Qualifying:

I was supposed to be playing with James Hewitt, he pulled out and sent Joe as his replacement. I knew Joe so wasn’t fussed. When we stood on the 7th tee and we already had 15pts and he had just smashed driver just short of the fairway bunker around the corner I asked if he wanted me to caddy. Needless to say, I scored 38pts on my own ball through the 18 holes and we lipped out for birdie on 5 occasions. Joe on the other hand had just shot a lifetime low of 68 for a net 63 and 44pts! we ended with 47 combined and won on count back from Dan and Angus.

Regional round:

Well, it was meant to be. Neither of us could make the date and a replacement had been arranged. The replacements didn’t turn up and the event was cancelled due to waterlogging! It was meant to be. The postponement meant that instead of 3 qualifiers from the regional event, there would be 6 from 6 individual matchplay stablefords. We were drawn at home to Norwood Park represented by Simon Dickens(4) and Rene Tallack(3). Another solid outing by both of us with me shooting 76 and a string of must make shots/putts saw us win 41pts to 37pts.

UK Final:

We started off Par, Bogey (One of only 3 we recorded in the entire competition) and then finally got a 3pt hole on the 3rd. From then on, we were putting for birdie on every hole up to the 10th. An eagle putt on 7 for me came up 1inch short but back to back 3pt holes on 6 & 7 had us with 20 points at the turn. Pivotal moments happen and on 10 when we both hit 3wd 300yd off the tee with hurricane winds behind us, we then both missed the green and had long putts for par. Joe rolled a beauty in the front door from 18ft to keep us going. Two pars followed and then a par for 3pts, our 1st shot picked up on the back 9. I told Joe that we needed 1 more for 40 and a chance, 3 more and we will win it in this wind. I didn’t obviously think i would need to hole a downhill 10ft putt for par on 14 to keep us going. In she popped and we then birdied the next and both lipped out for birdie on the 16th. The 17th hole at Maxstoke is a 450yd dogleg left par four with out of bounds all down the left and a 20ft wide moat going straight across the front of the green. Playing into a 40/50yd wind it was brutal as the SI3. We both hit monster drives leaving 175 and 162 to the flag. What followed was THE shot that won the competition. Joe hit a pure 8i from 162yd to 2ft stiff, in she popped and we had a 4ptr. A par up the last required for 42pts….. The last is also brutal, uphill 440yds into the wind. When I was just short of the green in two, I asked the organisers what the lead score was….40! A chip and 2 putts for 41. As the ball rolled in for the winning point I told Joe what was in….."

Congratulations once again to the pair, we look forward to hearing all about Portugal!

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